Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its world and its characters belong in their entirety to Square-Enix and not to me.
A/N: Just want to say a big 'welcome back!' to Omega Gilgamesh, and that I hope you continue to enjoy the story. :) Not to mention I hope all you newcomers, whether familiar with the story or not, aren't going to be disappointed with my humble rendition, such as it is. ;) If you have any questions about the story, please feel free to ask. But best of all, please read, review and ENJOY!
-Ludi
Notes to the story: Shera's original Japanese name was Sierra, but was mis-translated as Shera in the English version. In Advent Children Cid named his new airship 'Sierra' after her. :) I've kept her name as Shera here for the sake of familiarity.
-oOo-
: Chapter Fourteen : Captain Highwind
Vincent seemed to have a remarkable knowledge of the Mount Nibel area, and with his and Tifa's powers combined, the treacherous mountain range was not so much a threat as it might have been.
Cloud had been relieved to leave Nibelheim - if it had been Nibelheim. He had seen the evidence of its reality with his own eyes, but he could not accept that it was the town that he had seen burn five years ago. Yet someone had built the town again from scratch, and the only people that would have the power and resources to do that were the Shinra. Was the rebuilding of Nibelheim nothing more than a cover-up of the events involving Sephiroth 5 years ago? And had they been willing to erase the existences of all those that had passed away in the fire - even Cloud's own mother?
All through the hazardous journey of winding paths that comprised Mount Nibel, Cloud had felt a sense of unrest fill him. Vincent, he suspected, probably knew why this false Nibelheim existed and that the real one had been burnt. However, the man never said a word on the subject, nor on any other, for that matter. He was as silent as the falling snow, and as cold as it too. He did not appear to care for his fellow comrades - nor little for himself.
The group of eight trekked across the peaks and past the old Mako Reactor that had been the scene of so much pain and drama 5 years earlier. It had not been possible to bring the Buggy with them over the windy, rocky mountains. So they had had to bear the brunt of the cold and wet for nearly a day.
The other side of Mount Nibel was characterised by vast, lush green plains that stretched onto the furthest coasts of the New Continent. Following the curve of the mountain range brought the group to their newest destination - Rocket Town.
Originally, this had been the site of the Shinra's Space Program. The only remnant of this fact was the towering, majestic form of the rusty, mossy rocket that would once have entered into the dizzy heights of space. However, the ejection scaffolds no longer held the rocket in place, and the machine itself was leaning against the nearest support. It was evident that, while it had been taking off, something had happened to cause the Shinra to immediately abort mission. It seemed that the members of the Space Program had been waiting so long for the continuation of the project that they had eventually built a town beside the rocket and brought in their families to live there. Hence the tiny community had been named Rocket Town. And it was here that the group decided to rest for a while before continuing on the search for Sephiroth.
"What a lovely town this is!" Aerith stated as they arrived.
It was indeed, very beautiful. A picturesque village, surrounded by green elms, Rocket Town's quaintness was dwarfed by the awe-inspiring spectacle that the rocket itself stood over it.
After eating at the local inn, Cloud decided it was time to ask whether anyone had seen Sephiroth pass through the village.
"Cloud, can't we just wait until we've rested a bit?" Yuffie complained. "I'm tired. All that walking through the mountains... I'm getting blisters!"
"Well, stay here and sleep if you want." Cloud shrugged. "But once I've found out where Sephiroth is headed, I'm out of here."
Yuffie scowled childishly at him.
"Why do you always threaten to go off without me? Don't you know I'm a princess? You should treat me with respect or I'll -"
"Save it, kid," Barret nudged the irate young girl. "Princess or not, we're the ones who call the shots, okay? You wan' out, we ain't stoppin' you. Just keep a can on it, ok?"
At the words Yuffie pouted, crossed her arms and looked away, but she didn't get up and leave either. For some reason, Cloud seemed to have inspired complete loyalty in her, though he had no idea as to why. It was all a little suspicious. But he didn't have time to ponder on it. Instead he shrugged again and stood up.
"You all coming or what?"
Not everyone seemed too taken with Cloud's enthusiasm, Yuffie in particular. After the trek through Mount Nibel everyone was truly exhausted, but Cloud's fervour to find Sephiroth was now burning brighter than ever. Despite their fatigue, one and all followed him out into the main and only street that made up Rocket Town. In the middle of the town stood an old man, who seemed engrossed with the leaning rocket in the distance. Cloud stopped and called to him.
"Excuse me?"
The old man turned to him mildly.
"Just look at that sight," he said unexpectedly, nodding toward the great rocket. "Every time I look at it, it fills me with such awe. It was a sad day when the project was abandoned. Such a shame. So many of us lost so much - not only our livelihoods, but our purpose." He paused and turned back to Cloud. "What do you think of it, young man?"
Cloud took a moment to stare up at the huge edifice. Standing there below it, he suddenly got the feeling of how potent the image was. Here he was, a poor, insignificant man in front of a marvel of science. It was much the same emotion as he'd felt with the dolphin at Junon - except that sensation had stemmed from the wonder of Mother Nature. He took in a breath.
"Yes. It's beautiful."
The old man suddenly began to chuckle.
"Here I am talking about this rocket and boring you to death! I apologise. What is it you wanted to ask me?"
"Oh, there's no need to apologise," Cloud smiled. "I understand your enthusiasm. But I was wondering if you'd seen this man passing through..."
"A man?" the old man looked blank. "You'd have to ask the Captain about such things. He knows everything that happens round here. I'm too glued to this rocket to notice who comes and goes."
"Well, can you tell me where this Captain lives?" Cloud asked politely.
The man pointed out a charming little house to the side of the village. Thanking him, Cloud and the others walked over to the house. Knocking on the door, they waited for an answer, but there was none.
"No one's in." Barret remarked. "So what next, fearless leader?"
Cloud shrugged.
"Well, this Captain's got to be around here somewhere. It isn't as if this village is comparable to Midgar. It's tiny! He can't be very far."
He was interrupted by Tifa speaking from the other end of the front garden.
"Hey, Cloud, look at this."
Cloud sidled up to stand beside her. She was looking at a large, pink plane that was resting on the grass beside the house.
"Wow. It's huge, isn't it," she murmured in admiration. "I wonder if it still flies."
"It looks as if our Captain is into aircraft," Cloud commented. Then a thought struck him. "I've just had an idea. What if we ask the Captain if we can borrow his plane? It would sure come in useful. We could go places faster."
"Excuse me? Can I help you?"
Everyone whirled round to see who had spoken. Behind the group was standing a woman in a scientist's coat, holding a clipboard in typical scientist fashion. She was a petite woman, with mousy brown hair, a rosy complexion, and sweet features that were much understated by a pair of thick round glasses.
"Sorry," Cloud hastened to apologise, "we were just looking. It's quite a piece of work."
The woman bestowed them with a bright smile.
"Oh, that's the Tiny Bronco. The Captain built it."
Cloud turned back round to face her. "Do you know the Captain?"
"Know him?" This seemed to strike the woman as humorous and she began to giggle helplessly. "I'm his...well to tell you the truth, I'm his assistant, but I'm also his..." She broke off into more laughter, then suddenly walked to the front door of the house. "You'd better come inside."
They walked into the house. It was one of the untidiest houses Cloud had ever come across. Bits of metal, bolts and nuts, airship model blueprints, spanners, screws and motors lay about the house in the most ridiculous places. The woman placed her clipboard down on a nearby table and turned to them cheerfully.
"My name's Shera. I live here with the Captain. But I'm afraid you've just missed him. He went out to work on the rocket."
"So he built the rocket too?" Cloud mused.
"Oh yes." Shera nodded. "What did you want to see him about?"
"Oh...we just wanted to see if we could borrow the Tiny Bronco."
Shera scratched her head doubtfully.
"Borrow the Tiny Bronco? Oh, I don't know. You see, he wanted it on show for the President's arrival."
"President?" Barret's face was beginning to twitch dangerously."You mean Rufus is coming to Rocket Town?"
"Uh-huh," Shera replied. "It's a big day for the Captain. President Rufus might be reinvesting the Space Program. He's arriving today with the Head of the Space Program."
"Fuckin' great," Barret muttered. "So Palmer's joinin' the party too."
Cloud thought a moment.
"I'm going to find the Captain," he stated shortly. "We really do need to borrow the Tiny Bronco. You lot stay here. I'll talk to him."
Going outside of the house, Cloud travelled toward the rocket at the edge of the town. Standing right next to it seemed to make clearer the overwhelming size of the structure. It almost took Cloud's breath away, to be in its presence. This, he thought, could have been the first thing to go into deep, vast space. What had happened? Shaking himself, he began to climb up the various ladders and scaffolding that led to the rocket's entrance at the top. From within the construction resonated the clangs of someone at work with a hammer, sounding over and over in a sporadic fashion. Reaching the creaky wooden platform at the top of the highest ladder, and not daring to look down, Cloud walked over it falteringly, and into the rocket.
A grisly man was working at a loose bit of metal wall with a battered hammer. He could not have been much more than thirty, but his unshaven, care-worn face and creased forehead made him look older than he actually was. On his head rested a pair of goggles and from the corner of his mouth hung a hunched, yellowed cigarette.
"Excuse me," Cloud addressed him, "do you know where the Captain is?"
The man continued with his work at the rusty bit of steel. He did not look at Cloud.
"Who's askin'?" he inquired in a husky voice between his cigarette.
Cloud ventured into the hallway of the rocket. The walls of metal had either rusted or mildewed, and bits were falling away.
"Cloud Strife. I hear your Captain's here."
The bedraggled man stopped hammering and slowly lowered his hand. He turned to Cloud and looked him over suspiciously.
"I'm the Captain," his smoky voice replied. "Cid Highwind's the name. Whaddya want?"
Cloud hung back, momentarily surprised. So this tatty, prematurely-aged man was the famous Captain of the Space Program?
"Um...I was just wondering. Can I possibly borrow your Tiny Bronco? It's important."
Cid stared at him, half in shock and half in indignation.
"Are you out of your fuckin' mind? That's one of my most cherished possessions. I can't let you just fuckin' walk away and take it!"
Cloud blinked several times at Cid's outspokenness. Not even Barret swore like that.
"But it's important and I..."
Cid rolled his eyes and continued with his job.
"Are you deaf or jus' stupid? I'm not lettin' you have that plane and that's that. Now fuck off."
Seeing it was useless to argue with him, Cloud shrugged cockily and exited the rocket. The others were waiting from him in Shera's house.
"So, what happened?" Cait Sith asked. "Did the Captain say yes?"
Cloud ignored the question and addressed Shera.
"Your Captain sure has a foul mouth."
"Oh no, Cid didn't give you any of that, did he?" Shera looked flustered. "I'm so sorry. He always gets so cross nowadays. It's all my fault really."
"Why, what did you do?" Aerith began, but was interrupted by the door banging open. In the doorway stood Cid, looking amazed and not too pleased to see visitors in his house.
"What's goin' on in here, Shera, a freakin' party?" He glared at Cloud in disgusted recognition. "What the hell are you still doin' here? I told you, I'm not givin' my plane to you."
The eight astonished visitors stared at the grizzled Captain as he swaggered past them and plumped himself into a seat at the dining room table, slamming his feet and a small pile of mud on to the shiny surface. Shera hastened to pacify him.
"Cid, they're not doing any harm," she insisted meekly. "They just popped by to see you and..."
Cid stared at her incredulously and the last morsel of tobacco slipped out of his crumbling cigarette and onto the carpeted floor.
"Wait a minute Shera, let me get this straight." He glared at her as she fell silent. "We have visitors, and you haven't even made them some tea yet?"
"But..."
"JUST MAKE THEM SOME FUCKIN' TEA!" yelled the Captain, and everyone started in alarm. "Geez, what the world is comin' to, I jus' don't know. I'm gonna go work on my new blimp project."
Pulling himself up from the chair and grabbing a bottle of whiskey from a side table, he stomped off to an adjoining room and slammed the door shut violently. Shera stared after him in dismay.
"Oh no, now I've made him really mad."
"What an awful man," Aerith put in, feeling sorry for the meek scientist, but Shera shook her head.
"No. He's the most wonderful man I've ever met. He's a genius and he's kind and generous and caring," she took in a whimsical breath, her eyes dreamy.
"Heh, heh." Yuffie chuckled sarcastically. "Sounds like my kinda guy."
"No really!" Shera shook her head in determination. "He's lovely. But now, he gets so angry all the time. He won't stop smoking and he drinks himself silly. It's as though...he's gone to pieces. And it's all my fault."
"All your fault?" Tifa spoke to her kindly. "What do you mean?"
Shera sighed heavily and sat down on a nearby sofa.
"It's a long story. Maybe you should all sit down, and I'll get you that cup of tea."
-oOo-
It was several years back. I think you'll remember when, because the whole world was so excited about the launching of the Shinra No. 26. It was a big occasion - the first journey into space, and after twenty-six model rockets the Shinra had finally got things right. Nothing was to go wrong with Shinra No. 26. But that was not the only reason why that day was to be so special.
You see, the Captain's always dreamed of going up into space. It's been his ambition ever since he was a boy. There's nothing else in this world he really cares for. And that day, his dream was about to become a reality. He was so excited - he was just like a little child all over again, laughing and joking, really, truly happy.
I was working as a technician on the rocket. That morning, he came to oversee the work I was doing. He was all jumpy and I couldn't really have blamed him. I was kinda feeling the same way too.
"Shera, today's the big day!" he cried. "I know this is totally unlike me, but I'm getting all fluttery inside!"
I beamed at him.
"But of course, Captain!"
He still couldn't help being his old crusty self, even in his moment of glory.
"Would you stop calling me Captain, Shera?" he barked. "We're livin' together, for the love of Christ! My name's Cid. C-I-D, Cid! Or can't you even manage that?"
I couldn't help smiling at him still. You may think he's unkind, but I love the way he gets all serious.
"Right! Sorry Captain...I mean, Cid!"
"Oh!" he began to walk back off to the cockpit as he added his afterthought. "Don't take all day on that air chamber, Shera. Heaven knows why you're so freakin' slow at these things."
"I won't Cap-...Cid!"
I watched him leave the room and carried on with my work. He was right - I'm slow - but everything must be perfect for the Captain...I mean, Cid. I love doing things for him. But you see, that's where everything started going wrong.
Everything was ready for the lift-off. Cid was all ready in the cockpit, and the crew were all in place. Palmer was about to begin the countdown, and everyone was in a state of trepidation. Especially Cid. This was his special moment, and it had not even crossed his mind that someone - that is, me - would spoil everything for him.
As the countdown was about to begin and Cid had got all the controls ready, he received a message on the intercom.
"Captain, there is someone still in the decompression chamber. We cannot take off until that person is evacuated immediately."
Cid was furious.
"It's that damn bloody Shera! I told her to get her ass into gear over those oxygen tanks!"
He picked up the intercom speaker and switched on the line to the decompression chamber.
"Shera! What the fuck are you doin' down there!"
I was surprised to hear him shouting so loudly down the intercom. I picked up the speaker.
"I'm fixing the oxygen tank, Cid," I replied. "It's faulty, and I want everything to be perfect for you when you take off."
His voice raged back in reply.
"Goddammit, Shera, don't you understand that this rocket's gonna take off in a matter of seconds! You're gonna be burnt to a cinder!"
As I answered him, I felt my heart fall right down to the floor. I was frightened, but I knew that I was ready to sacrifice myself for the love of my Captain, and out of respect for his dreams.
"Cid, you are my Captain and I am willing to sacrifice myself for your interests. Don't worry about me, just do what you've always wanted - go into space!"
There was a silence before he replied.
"Shera, you fool, I order you t'get out of there now!"
I ignored him and carried on with my work. I was adamant that this was the right thing to do.
Meanwhile Cid was in dire straits up in the cockpit. The countdown had started, and he had a dilemma on his hands - and only ten seconds to sort it out.
"Shera!" he shrieked into the intercom, "Shera!"
He got no reply. Slamming the speaker back into its place, he listened to the countdown fall lower and lower, each second a precious moment lost.
"Shera, why are you doin' this to me!" he yelled. "If you go, I'll never forgive myself!"
The countdown continued.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
With one second left to go, Cid took in a tortured breath and aborted mission.
-oOo-
Shera sipped her cup of tea thoughtfully and placed it gently back down on to its saucer.
"And that's why, whatever he does or says now, I'll always respect him," she sighed. "He saved my life, put it before what he wanted, what he'd wanted for all his life! But it's all my fault he's the way he is now. I'll never forgive myself."
"Is he always like that?" Cait Sith asked in a half whisper, casting a wary eye on the room Cid had disappeared into.
"I'm afraid so." Shera nodded. "I destroyed his dream - and now it's even worse! The rocket's crumbling all around him, and he can't fix it all by himself." She stood up. "That's why today, I'm going to take any aggro he gives me. Because today, he's getting his chance to start the Space Program again."
At that very same second, a sharp knock came at the door. From the next room, Cid came barging through, a freshly lit cigarette hanging from his mouth.
"It's Palmer! Shera, get the kettle on!"
Shrugging amiably, Shera turned to switch on the kettle again. Cid had stomped off to the front door and thrown it open triumphantly. In the doorway stood the rotund form of Palmer, almost filling in the frame with his corpulent mass of flesh.
"Palmer, my main man!" Cid greeted rapturously.
Palmer grinned all over his foolish face.
"Nice to see you again, Cid. It's been a long time."
At the sight of Palmer, Cloud saw that Barret was beginning to show signs of losing control. Signing to him to keep quiet, he watched Cid open the door wide for Palmer to enter.
"Here, have a seat," he began, then he noticed Cloud and the others occupying the main room and most of its chairs. He scowled. "Oh. I forgot. These wasters are hangin' round my house."
He tried to drag Yuffie out of her chair.
"Come on, get outta my house, have some respect for the visitor."
Yuffie slapped his hand off in annoyance.
"Get your hands offa me, you cheeky bastard!"
It looked as if there was about to be a prize fight between Cid and Yuffie, but Palmer cut it short by laughing in his stuffy voice.
"Oh, don't worry about it Cid. After all, they're visitors too."
He lumped himself on to the nearest settee, causing Aerith and Tifa to crush themselves to the sides for fear of getting flattened. Palmer, who was looking around with the air of making himself totally at home, suddenly turned to Tifa leeringly.
"Don't I know you?" he grinned, breathing right down her chest. Tifa turned away in disgust and sent Cloud a helpless look with her eyes. Cloud shrugged in return. It was a lucky thing that Palmer was so brainless. He didn't even recognise them as members of AVALANCHE.
Cid was getting impatient.
"Shera...where's the damned tea!"
Shera bustled over with a cup of tea and a plate of scones with a rattled air. Setting it on the coffee-table in front of Palmer, the fat man began to get excited.
"Oh my! Cherry scones, my favourite!" He proceeded to stuff himself with the cakes ravenously. "Thanks, Shera!"
Cid, looking frustrated, grabbed at his bottle of whiskey and downed a few gulps.
"Let's get to the point, Palmer," he began, tizzily. "About the reinvestment of the Space Program."
Palmer looked up blankly, crumbs sticking to his chin.
"Pardon?"
"You know!" Cid made a gesture with his whiskey bottle, sending several droplets spraying on to the carpet. "Refunding the Space Program? The rocket? Goin' up into space?"
"Oh!" Palmer looked enlightened. He hastily devoured another scone. "I'm not here about the Space Program."
Cid gaped at him in surprise.
"What? Then what are you here for!"
Palmer looked unconcerned. He was too busy eating.
"Oh, we need to borrow your Tiny Bronco. The President's quite interested in it. He'd outside right now, taking a look at it."
"What!" Cid placed down the bottle with a thud. "Well I'll be darned...!"
He rushed out of the house in a blind fury. Palmer laughed and looked round at the others jovially.
"That Cid! Always good for a laugh!"
Barret walked over to him unexpectedly and grabbed him by the dickey-bow, causing him to drop his scone.
"You Shinra toad!" he hissed. "What lies have you been endorsing in now!"
"Hey!" Palmer was beginning to recognise Barret. "Hey, I know you!"
Cloud got up and looked out of the window. To his amazement, he saw a Shinra helicopter parked outside.
"Oh, great..."
Ignoring Palmer's shouts, he ran outside and into the front garden. Cid was standing on the pathway, facing an annoyed Rufus and yelling abuse at him.
"You fuckin' double-crosser! I don't believe you, havin' the bloody cheek to come here askin' for my most prized possession! You filthy, lyin'...!"
Rufus, who'd been standing and listening with a bored expression, suddenly noticed Cloud behind Cid and stood up straight, smiling lazily.
"Ah, Cloud. So you've decided to join our little rendezvous."
"I didn't even know you were coming," Cloud replied dryly. Cid, however, did not seem so calm about the affair.
"Oh I get it! You two were workin' together to steal my Tiny Bronco!"
Cloud didn't pay any attention to his ranting.
"Why are you here Rufus?"
Rufus crossed his arms smugly.
"We've recently had reports of Sephiroth heading for the Temple of the Ancients. We need the Tiny Bronco to chase him over the ocean. It's the most effective way, you know."
"But why has Sephiroth gone to the Temple of the Ancients?"
Rufus shrugged, but was cut off by Cid beginning to shout again.
"Hey! Hey! Get your hands off my plane!"
Palmer had come out of Cid's house and was now attempting to squeeze himself into the Tiny Bronco. The others had followed him out of the house and there was now a big scuffle going on between Palmer, Cid and Barret.
"I tried to stop Barret!" Tifa cried helplessly. "But he got so mad, he had to have it out with Palmer!"
"This is getting ridiculous." Red muttered, bemused.
At first it seemed as if Cid and Barret had the upper hand, then Palmer unexpectedly produced a Mako gun from within the paunchy depths of his suit. Firing at Barret with a clumsy aim, he caught him on the shoulder with a beam of charged Mako. Barret fell back and clutched at his wounded shoulder with a cry of agony. Pointing the gun at Cid, he began to chuckle insanely.
"Hee, hee, I promise you, Cid, no harm will come to your precious plane!"
"You bastard con-man!" Cid barked back. "I'll get you for this!"
Cloud gritted his teeth. He had to stop Palmer from flying off with the Tiny Bronco, but the man had a gun. Nevertheless, he charged forth with his sword drawn. Palmer turned on him in surprise, but just about managed to get a shot in. The pure beam of Mako energy flew through the air like an arrow and struck Cloud in the side. He lolled backward, gripping at his injury with gritted teeth.
"Cloud!" Tifa cried, ready to have a go at Palmer herself, but Vincent stepped in.
"Allow me."
Picking up his gun from his side, and twirling it expertly on his index finger, he pointed the weapon at Palmer and fired. The bullet scaled effortlessly through the air and hit Palmer in the leg. With a yell of pain, he stumbled backward.
"Security!" he shouted, agonised. "Get security!"
Unfortunately, as the security truck full of Shinra soldiers came speeding on to the site, Palmer bumbled right back into its path. The truck was going too fast to stop, and crashed right into the fat man.
Seeing one of his inner council was down, Rufus quickly took matters into his own hands. He called the Shinra soldiers with a sharp decisiveness.
"Take out these fools - NOW!"
Cloud looked around urgently for an escape route. The only one that seemed to be available was the Tiny Bronco. He turned to the others.
"Get into the plane!"
In the ensuing chaos, the eight all pushed for the aircraft, squashing themselves into the back seats. Cloud jumped into the front seat and pulled at the controls.
"Okay," he breathed, "okay, let's get going!"
The Tiny Bronco jerked into life and began to run along the ground, straight into the group of scattering Shinra soldiers, and taking off.
"Stop them!" Rufus ordered desperately, but the plane had already begun to take off into the air. Cid, now more then simply angry, chased after the plane at top speed.
"Get outta my plane!" he yelled. "Get outta my Tiny Bronco, you morons!"
Seeing they wouldn't, he jumped up and held on to the runner and wouldn't let go, causing the plane to rock precariously.
"Get him in!" Cloud cried and Tifa hastened to pull him up. Just as he'd climbed to safety, a large crash sounded behind them. The plane began to sway to and fro frighteningly.
"They've hit the right propeller!" Cid cried, looking back at the shooting Shinra soldiers. "Shit! We've got to execute a crash landing!"
"But we're over the ocean now!" Yuffie cried, for the first time displaying real terror at their predicament.
"Crash land in the water then!" Cid ordered furiously.
"But I can't control this thing!" Cloud shouted back, pressing desperately at all the controls. The plane made a sudden dive toward the sea below.
"Oh sh-it!" Cid yelped, holding on for dear life.
Closing their eyes, everyone held on screaming as the damaged plane suddenly buckled and splashed into the water with a deafening crash.
-oOo-
Next: The team face a case of stolen materia...